08/10/2026
A Fencing Journey 28 Years in the Making
AFO’s style of fencing didn’t come from one instructor, one treatise, or one system. It has developed through nearly three decades of instruction, competition, historical research and a constant effort to better understand the sword.
My personal journey began in 1998. My modern fencing foundation was shaped by Mauro Hamza, Andrey Geva, Tomasz Stusinski, Ahki Spencer-El and Oleksii Ivanov through foil and, primarily, saber. There were others but these are the teachers whom made a significant impact.
Throughout my journey of HEMA, Benoît Bouysset has played a critical role in opening my eyes to techniques and concepts of thrust fencing that would significantly influence how I approached historical rapier. Although, a modern instructor he understands why modern concepts are steeped in history.
Historical fencing began for me in 2013 with Fabris and Capo Ferro, eventually leading me deeper into Francesco Antonio Marcelli and the Neapolitan tradition. That study has continued through Terracusa, Rosaroll & Grisetti, Mattei and, most recently, Pallavicini.
Since 2022, I’ve also had the privilege of studying with Maestro Francesco Loda, who has become both a friend and mentor. His insight into Marcelli and the Italian tradition as a whole has been invaluable in helping connect historical research with practical fencing.
All of these influences have helped shape what we do today at AFO.
We aren’t trying to imitate books or plates. We study the sources, learn from living teachers, drill the principles, pressure-test them and fence.
And after 28 years, I’m still learning.
Measure. Tempo. Control.
Hit Without Being Hit.
AFO — All For One Fencing
One School. One Goal. One Tradition.